Actuator

Abstract

An actuator includes an attachment member including a coil; a movable element having a magnet disposed opposite to the coil, and that is displaced relative to the attachment member when the coil is energized; a resilient support; and a cushioning material. The resilient support has an attachment member-side fixing portion that is fixed to the attachment member, a movable element-side fixing portion that is fixed to the movable element, and a deformation portion that links the attachment member-side fixing portion and the movable element-side fixing portion. The cushioning material is provided between the attachment member and the deformation portion, and deforms in conjunction with bending deformation of the deformation portion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An actuator, comprising:
 an attachment member including a coil;   a movable element having a magnet disposed facing the coil, the movable element being displaced relative to the coil by energization of the coil;   a resilient support having an attachment member-side fixing portion that is fixed to the attachment member, a movable element-side fixing portion that is fixed to the movable element, and a deformation portion that links the attachment member-side fixing portion and the movable element-side fixing portion; and   a cushioning material provided between the attachment member and the deformation portion, the cushioning material deforming in conjunction with bending deformation of the deformation portion,   wherein the cushioning material is a discrete member from the resilient support.   
     
     
         2 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the resilient support and the cushioning material are disposed overlapping with each other in a thickness direction, and the cushioning material has an adhesive surface at a side of the deformation portion, the adhesive surface being adhered to the deformation portion.   
     
     
         3 . The actuator of  claim 2 , wherein the cushioning material has an adhesive surface at a side of the attachment member, the adhesive surface being adhered to the attachment member. 
     
     
         4 . The actuator of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the cushioning material has a surplus portion that does not overlap with the deformation portion as viewed from the thickness direction,   the actuator further comprises a cover member,   the deformation portion is disposed between the cover member and the cushioning material, and   the cover member is applied to the surplus portion.   
     
     
         5 . The actuator of  claim 4 , wherein the cover member has an adhesive surface, the adhesive surface being adhered to the deformation portion and to the cushioning material. 
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning material is provided in a compressed state between the attachment member and the deformation portion. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning material is provided at a side of the attachment member-side fixing portion of the deformation portion. 
     
     
         8 . The actuator of  claim 7 , wherein:
 when a displacement direction in which the movable element displaces is designated a ±Z direction and mutually perpendicular directions among directions in a plane orthogonally intersecting the ±Z direction are designated an X direction and a Y direction, the deformation portion includes an arm extending from the movable element-side fixing portion to the attachment member-side fixing portion,   the arm including:   a first X-direction outer extension portion extending from a side of the movable element-side fixing portion toward an outer side in the X direction,   a first return portion formed closer to the attachment member-side fixing portion than the first X-direction outer extension portion, at which an extension direction is turned back from the outer side in the X direction to an inner side in the X direction,   an X-direction inner extension portion extending from the first return portion toward the inner side in the X direction,   a second return portion formed closer to the movable element-side fixing portion than the X-direction inner extension portion, at which the extension is turned back from the inner side in the X direction to the outer side in the X direction,   a second X-direction outer extension portion extending from the second return portion toward the outer side in the X direction,   a third return portion formed closer to the attachment member-side fixing portion than the second X-direction outer extension portion, at which the extension is turned from the outer side in the X direction to an outer side in the Y direction, and   a Y-direction outer extension portion extending from the third return portion toward the outer side in the Y direction and connected to the attachment member-side fixing portion, and   the cushioning material is provided along the second X-direction outer extension portion, the third return portion, and the Y-direction outer extension portion.   
     
     
         9 . The actuator of  claim 8 , comprising two cushioning materials, wherein:
 the resilient support includes four attachment member-side fixing portions and four arms,   two of the four arms are disposed at one side in the X direction relative to the movable element-side fixing portion and are formed symmetrically in the Y direction,   another two of the four arms are disposed at another side in the X direction relative to the movable element-side fixing portion and are formed symmetrically in the Y direction,   one of the cushioning materials is provided at a position at which the two arms disposed at the one side in the X direction relative to the movable element-side fixing portion adhere at a same surface thereof, and   another of the cushioning materials is provided at a position at which the other two arms disposed at the other side in the X direction relative to the movable element-side fixing portion adhere at a same surface thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The actuator of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the deformation portion is formed in a plate shape,   a Y-direction connecting portion that connects, in the Y direction, the third return portions of the two arms disposed at the one side in the X direction relative to the movable element-side fixing portion, and a Y-direction connecting portion that connects, in the Y direction, the third return portions of the other two arms disposed at the other side in the X direction relative to the movable element-side fixing portion, are provided,   the one cushioning material is provided along one of the Y-direction connecting portions, and   the other cushioning material is provided along another of the Y-direction connecting portions.   
     
     
         11 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein a step portion is formed at an end portion at an attachment member-side fixing portion side of the deformation portion of the resilient support, and the movable element-side fixing portion and the deformation portion are separated from the attachment member, in a thickness direction of the resilient support, than the attachment member-side fixing portion.